A little while back, I talked about my body care routine over on my YouTube channel. In that video, I briefly mentioned firming products, and now that spring is just around the corner, bringing with it the possibility of going bare-legged for the first time in months, I thought it might be a good time to share a few more in-depth thoughts on some of my favourites.

Products that claim to firm and tone up the body are something I've only got into fairly recently. For a long time, I dismissed them as something of a fad, until it occurred to me - I use products that claim to firm up and smooth the lines on my face, so why not those that will firm up my body and smooth cellulite? (Not that I have any of course, cough cough.) Now, I wouldn't be without them. Just like anti-ageing creams for the face, these products might not work miracles, but combined with a good diet, exercise and generally taking care of myself, they definitely help. With the warmer months on the way, these are what I'll be using to whip my body into shape.

I mentioned this brush in my body care video and it definitely deserves top billing in this list. It might not look very exciting, but it's one of the best investments I've made in terms of body care and it only set me back a few pounds. I use this about three times a week before my morning shower to exfoliate my skin and get the circulation flowing, using upward strokes towards the heart, starting at my feet and working my way up. Not only is dry body brushing great for exfoliation, it's also one of the most effective things you can do to reduce the appearance of cellulite. If you have any problem areas, concentrating on them by using circular motions with the brush can really help to make them look smoother. Essentially, this action helps to redistribute the uneven fat cells which cause skin to dimple. Not particularly technical, I know, but it works! I find that using my body brush like this, combined with a few targeted butt exercises, makes the most difference to my lower body area in terms of its overall appearance. (I recommend fitnessblender on YouTube for the exercises - even their five minute butt workouts have produced noticeable results for me when done regularly.) 

I have always loved body butters and the way they leave my skin feeling hydrated and super soft. While I will probably always be seduced from time to time by more luxurious variations than this, you really cannot beat it. It's very affordable (on offer at Boots for under £4.00 last time I checked!) and manages to be rich and nourishing without sitting heavily on the skin or leaving it feeling greasy in the slightest. Containing cocoa and shea butter, this is a great all over body moisturiser, and affordable enough to use for that purpose on a daily basis. However, you get the added benefit of collagen and elastin which help to firm the skin while you moisturise. Plus, it has that addictive, cocoa butter scent to it and comes in an effortless pump format. Palmer's advice is to massage over the whole body twice daily, concentrating on thighs, legs, stomach and bust. Indeed, focusing a little harder on areas where you are likely to get cellulite (such as thighs and stomach) is always a good idea when applying any product, even just a regular moisturiser. Much like the dry brushing action, the massaging of the area is important in redistributing the fat cells, so the act of thoroughly rubbing the product into your skin can be just as useful as the product itself.

Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

The delightfully named Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (pronounced "boom boom" cream apparently). This has become a bit of a cult product and there was so much hype around it that I just couldn't resist buying it. I went for the smaller tub to try it out first because it's pretty expensive - I paid £18 for 75 ml. I'm a big fan of the cute packaging and an even bigger fan of the scent - hard to describe but "tropical paradise" is the best I can do, and suffice it to say that you will want to keep sniffing it! This is a thick cream but it feels light on application and absorbs very quickly. Containing guarana extract, it claims to tighten and smooth "like no other", and it certainly leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft - like silk. Is it worth the money? Well, it is a beautiful product, and I will probably buy it again, but due to the cost I won't be using it on an everyday basis. Instead I will reserve it for those special days when I want to feel like silk and smell like a tropical paradise!

As the name of this product suggests, it's an oil rather than a cream and because of that I prefer to use it in the evenings after a bath instead of during the day. It also has a beautiful scent of geranium and rosemary oil, the kind of scent that makes you feel instantly relaxed. Because it's an oil, you naturally massage it in more to help the skin absorb it, which is helpful for those lumpy and bumpy areas. Containing magnesium-rich kelp, and omegas 6 and 9-rich algae, it helps to improve the skin's elasticity as well as adding nourishment and moisture. It's not cheap at £35 for 100 ml, but I find that a little of it goes a long way and one 100 ml bottle should last a good few months.

This is the first body firming product I ever tried and it's still one of my favourites. In terms of improving the appearance of cellulite, I'd say this is probably the most effective of those I've mentioned, apart from the dry brush. The down side of it is that it is a targeted anti-cellulite product and not really suitable for use as an all-over moisturiser, so you can't really multi-task with this one like you can with the others. In my opinion, it's the least pleasant to apply, as it's gel-like in consistency and thus a tad sticky before it's absorbed completely. Also, it doesn't smell lovely like the other products I've mentioned, although it by no means smells bad. So why is it on my favourites list? Well, as I said, it's impressive in terms of results and really does make the whole area appear smoother and even a little lifted with regular application. One of the main ingredients is caffeine, which is supposed to burn away fat cells, and it also contains Indian forskolin (nope, no idea what that is) which apparently stimulates microcirculation. It's just under £20.00 for 150 ml so middle of the road in terms of price. If you're really looking to blitz cellulite rather than generally firm up, this is the one I would recommend.

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What are some of your favourite body firming products? And do you have any top tips for staying smooth, peachy and cellulite free? Feel free to share!

Kate x

*Gifted product. Some links may be affiliate links. This poses no extra cost to you, the customer. All opinions, as always, are my own.

I've been lucky enough to be gifted a few new in products from Ren Clean Skincare recently. First of all, their Perfect Canvas Finishing Serum, which I reviewed back in September and which I highly recommend you check out if you like multi-tasking products, as it's a primer and skincare in one. In the last few weeks, I've also been trialling their recently launched & Now To Sleep Pillow Spray*, as well as one of their beautiful Christmas 2017 gift sets, Rose To The World*, which features a rose scented body wash and body lotion. Let's just say I have been feeling particularly pampered lately!

I have been loving pillow sprays this past few months. I'm definitely a believer in the power of aromatherapy, and whether it's in this form or in essential oils you add to your bath or body care, breathing in a beautiful calming fragrance really does help towards a better night's sleep. There's also something deeply enjoyable about the act of misting your pillow, bed sheets or the air around your bed last thing at night - it adds to the wind down ritual and helps to let your body know that it's time to sleep. 

The blue and white packaging is cute and although it's a decent sized bottle (75 ml), it's also very portable, so you could easily slip it into your suitcase for travelling. The fragrance is a blend of hops, frankincense and lavender. I'm not sure I know what hops smell like and can't really pick them out when I smell the product, but the lavender and frankincense are a match made in heaven as far as I'm concerned. Lavender's calming properties are well known, and the fresh, herbal quality to the scent really compliments the warm, sweet headiness of the frankincense, resulting in a pillow spray that smells incredible and makes you feel calmer with every breath. If you struggle to sleep, know someone who does or just feel like adding a beautiful fragrance to your bed linen, you won't be disappointed in this.

Gorgeously packaged beauty products are always a winner when it comes to Christmas gifts, and Ren have some real gems on offer this year. In collaboration with Silken Favours, who produce beautiful, hand drawn prints, they've put together some of their most popular products in fabulously decorative packaging. From cute little stocking fillers to lavish gift boxes, beauty lovers will be spoilt for choice. I've popped a few of them for you to browse through in the widget below - they really are lovely to look at.

I was sent the Rose To The World gift set. The box itself is absolutely stunning - I certainly won't be throwing this away!

Inside, there is a very generous 200 ml bottle of Moroccan Rose Otto body wash and 200 ml Moroccan Rose Otto body lotion. Both smell absolutely divine. It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of rose scented products, and the fragrance of these also makes me think of Turkish Delight for some reason, which is definitely no bad thing!

The body wash is really versatile - it comes in a handy pump bottle and can be used as a shower gel, but it's also lovely to add to your bath, as it creates bubbles and, of course, smells wonderful. The body lotion is rich and hydrating, yet melts beautifully into the skin. I've really been enjoying using both products and think that any beauty lover would be thrilled to find this gift under the Christmas tree.

Are you a fan of pillow sprays? And will you be picking up any Christmas Gifts from Ren Clean Skincare this year?

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Kate x

*Gifted item. Some links may be affiliate links. This poses no extra cost to you, the customer. All opinions, as always, are my own.